Mechanics Of Writing Flashcards
(36 cards)
What are the mechanics of writing?
The conventions governing the technical aspects of writing including spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and abbreviations.
What is punctuation?
The use of signs other than letters to divide written language into units of meaning to enhance clarity of expression and comprehension.
List some common punctuation marks.
- Full stop/period (.)
- Comma (,)
- Inverted commas (“ “)
- Question mark (?)
- Exclamation mark (!)
- Colon (:)
- Semi colon (;)
- Apostrophe (‘)
- Dash (—)
- Hyphen (-)
- Brackets or parenthesis ( )
- Ellipsis (…)
- Slash/Oblique (/)
What is the use of a full stop/period?
- After statements/declarative sentences
- At the end of imperatives or commands
- In-between abbreviations
- With figures as decimal points
- After shortened titles/words
When is a comma used after salutations in letters?
After salutations and complementary closing in letters.
What is the purpose of inverted commas?
- To show direct statements or speech
- Used in slang or colloquial expressions
- For titles of articles, newspapers, journals, unpublished works, poems
- Around short quotations or sayings
What does a question mark indicate?
- At the end of direct questions
- A doubtful statement
- Humour or mild sarcasm
What is the function of an exclamation mark?
To express strong emotions such as fear, shock, or surprise.
How is an apostrophe used?
- To indicate ownership or possession
- To indicate the absence of a letter in contracted forms
What are the uses of a colon?
- To direct attention to what follows
- Between hours and minutes expressed in figures
- To introduce a list of items
When is a semi colon used?
To mark a short pause and indicate separation between clauses in a compound sentence when not joined by a coordinating conjunction.
What is the purpose of a dash?
- To separate phrases added to sentences
- To mark sharp turns in thought
- To separate questions and answers in testimonies
What is the function of brackets/parenthesis?
- To enclose cross-references
- To amend numbers or letters in text
- To enclose details and examples
How is a hyphen used?
- To write compound numbers between 21 and 99 in words
- To separate a prefix ending in a vowel from a word beginning with the same vowel
- To bind words to form a compound word
What does an ellipsis indicate?
That one or more words have been omitted from quoted material.
What is the use of a slash/oblique?
- To separate alternative words or phrases
- For web addresses to separate different elements
Define capitalization.
The convention of writing certain words in capital letters.
List instances where capitalization is used.
- The pronoun I
- Geographical names
- To begin sentences
- All proper nouns
- Titles before proper names
- Months and days of the week
- Nationalities
What are the conventions that govern the technical aspects of writing?
Mechanics
Mechanics include spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and abbreviations.
What is the purpose of punctuation in writing?
Enhances clarity and comprehension
Punctuation marks help structure sentences and convey meaning.
List common punctuation marks.
- Full stop/period (.)
- Comma (,)
- Inverted commas (“ ”)
- Question mark (?)
- Exclamation mark (!)
- Colon (:)
- Semi-colon (;)
- Apostrophe (’)
- Dash (—)
- Hyphen (-)
- Brackets/parentheses ( )
- Ellipsis (…)
- Slash/oblique (/)
When is a full stop/period used?
- After statements
- After commands
- In abbreviations
- As decimal points
- After shortened months/titles
Examples: I feel hungry. Read carefully. P.M.B. 95.6%, 0.5, Prof., Jan., Nov.
What are the uses of a comma?
- After salutations and closings
- Between address elements
- In large numbers
- To separate appositives
- After expressions introducing quotes
- With weak exclamations
- To avoid ambiguity
- Before conjunctions
Examples: Dear Sir, 2,500, Dr. Abah, He said, ‘…’, Oh friend, why?, After he broke his hand, writing became difficult.
What is the function of inverted commas (“ ”)?
- Indicate direct speech
- Enclose slang, non-English, or colloquial terms
- Denote titles of articles, poems, and short works
- Highlight quotations or sayings
